A company suspected of fraudulently selling a quality N95 face mask must refund more than $1.1 million to customers nationwide, the Federal Trade Commission announced Monday.
Razer and its affiliates advertised the Zephyr mask as N95 grade, although they never submitted it for testing or certification by the Food and Drug Administration or the National Institute for Safety and Health at work, the agency said. In advertisements and social media posts, Zephyr masks were presented as the equivalent of an N95 that would protect users from COVIDthe FTC said in a complaint.
“These companies falsely claimed, in the midst of a global pandemic, that their face mask was the equivalent of a certified N95 respirator,” Samuel Levine, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, said in a statement. statement. “The FTC will continue to hold accountable companies that use false and unsubstantiated claims to target consumers who are making decisions about their health and safety.”
Federal Trade Commission
As of October 2021, the Zephyr mask and three sets of filters sold for $99.99; the Razer Zephyr Starter Pack containing a mask and 33 sets of filters sold for $149.99; and a Razer Zephyr Filter Pack containing 10 sets of filters retailing for $29.99.
A Razer representative could not immediately be found for comment.
Razer and its related businesses are also prohibited from making false COVID-related claims or unsubstantiated claims about protective equipment, the FTC said. In addition to covering full refunds for customers misled about the product they purchased, sellers will pay a $100,000 civil penalty.
